Reimbursement
The current public health emergency ends on April 16, but HHS has promised providers 60 days notice.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology has long expressed concerns about the model's reimbursement structure.
The interpretation of affordability would take effect beginning January 1, 2023, in time for the next open enrollment period.
This is larger than the 7.98% increase proposed in the February advance notice.
Starting April 5, HHS will no longer adjudicate claims submitted for vaccine administration due to a lack of funds.
Payments are expected to increase by 1.5%, or $50 million next year.
The impact of the Omicron variant has been palpable, as median operating margins remained in the red for a second straight month in February.
CMS is following a budget-neutral approach by implementing a permanent cap on negative wage index changes to smooth yearly payment impacts.
This is especially important in a value-based care framework, since provider reimbursement is linked to clinical quality.
This decision validates that providers have a right to evaluate whether to participate in health plan networks, CEO says.